Capping a 28-month rulemaking process in August, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule, Updating the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts Regulations, which revises prevailing wage calculations and increases paperwork for contractors on federal and federally assisted construction projects. “This is yet another handout to organized labor on the backs of taxpayers, small businesses and the free market,”…
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Air Force, Corps, FAA experts anchor Airfield Paving Workshop
Sources: American Concrete Pavement Association, Rosemont, Ill.; CP staff The American Concrete Pavement Association’s (ACPA) Best Practices in Airfield Paving Workshop, October 24-26 in Denver, will offer guidance for the design, construction and rehabilitation of airport runway, taxiway and apron slabs. The program will feature technical presentations by subject matter experts from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transportation System…
Read MoreUSGS releases crushed stone, sand & gravel producer rankings
Nine publicly traded and four privately held companies populate the upper ranks of U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Specialist Jason Willett’s new “Top 100 Crushed Stone” and “Top 100 Sand & Gravel” producer surveys. Based on his analysis of 2021 shipments, here in descending order are the top players in each category: Public companies based in North America are Cemex,…
Read MoreLabor Department rule broadens Form 300 data submission requirements
Under “Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses,” a final rule effective January 2024, the Labor Department requires certain employers to electronically submit injury and illness information to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Establishments with 100 or more employees in cement, concrete, construction and other industries deemed high-hazard based on reportable incident rates must relay Form 300-Log of Work-Related…
Read MoreFTC and DOJ Antitrust Division weigh premerger protocol changes
With Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice concurrence, the Federal Trade Commission is proposing changes to the premerger notification form and associated instructions, as well as the premerger notification rules implementing the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. That law and its implementing rules require the parties to certain mergers and acquisitions to submit premerger notification to…
Read MoreEmpire State agencies underwrite 3D-printed turbine foundation specialist
Reinforced Concrete Additive Manufacturing Technologies (RCAM), Los Angeles-based developer of 3D-printed concrete renewable energy and energy storage components, has been named to the Year 1 cohort of the New York State- and New York City-backed Offshore Wind Innovation Hub. Participants are afforded a six-month mentoring and business development program leading to potential partnerships in the offshore wind value chain. RCAM…
Read MoreEmployment watchdog scrutinizes “Equal Opportunity in Construction”
A new report deep on demographic and compensation data across construction trades will inform the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s next steps to address discrimination and harassment. “Building For The Future: Advancing Equal Employment Opportunity in the Construction Industry” includes a brief business overview, followed by a discussion of employment discrimination based on race, national origin, and sex in the…
Read MorePort Authority mix design approvals hinge on carbon emissions cap
Concrete schedules for the vast Port Authority of New York and New Jersey infrastructure and building portfolio will soon reflect maximum carbon dioxide emissions limits—equivalent to a 25 percent or greater reduction in portland cement content—plus portland-limestone cement and ground glass pozzolans allowances. The new CO2 threshold and conditional binder specifications are the latest measures in a three-year old program…
Read MoreAgency pilots low embodied carbon material requirements
The U.S. General Services Administration has commenced a six-month procurement program to test Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) submittal requirements for asphalt, concrete, glass and steel specified in 11 Inflation Reduction Act-backed building or paving projects. The pilot will generate insights into regional market availability of qualifying products and materials, and inform adjustments that may be needed for a final set…
Read MoreCement, steel production emissions add up to EPA rounding errors
The Environmental Protection Agency’s new Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks cites 5.586 billion metric tons (mt) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions for 2021, a 6 percent increase over the prior year. The Inventory spans six economic sectors; the third largest, Industry, accounted for 24 percent, or 1.34 billion mt of CO2e in 2021. U.S. GREENHOUSE GAS…
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